IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
for Approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for
Jade City and Good Hope Lake Electrification Project
BEFORE: K. A. Keilty, Commissioner April 23, 2015
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY
WHEREAS:
A. On January 28, 2015, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application (Application) for the communities of Jade City and Good Hope Lake pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), and requests that the CPCN granted be conditional on BC Hydro taking over and owning the distribution system in Good Hope Lake;
B. In addition, BC Hydro requests approval to carry out construction work for a diesel generating station and related extension of the distribution system in advance of the taking over and owning the distribution system;
C. Good Hope Lake is named in the Remote Communities Regulation and Jade City is named in Order in Council No. 750, which amends the Remote Communities Regulation;
D. BC Hydro requests that Jade City and Good Hope Lake be listed in its Electric Tariff as Rate Zone ll communities within 90 days of the date BC Hydro expects to commence service in Jade City and Good Hope Lake pursuant to section 61 of the Act;
E. On February 26, 2015, the Commission established a twenty day comment period to allow stakeholders to indicate whether they intend to provide written submissions or IRs;
F. On March 17, 2015, comments were received from British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization (BCOAPO) and B.C. Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) indicating that neither wishes to file any information requests.
G. On March 25, 2015, BCSEA filed its comments supporting the Application. On March 27, 2015, BCOAPO filed its comments stating the Application is reasonable from a cost and delivery perspective, however alternative 4 in the Application may have higher and longer-term benefits.
H. In its reply dated April 10, 2015, BC Hydro provided additional reasons as to why alternative 4 was not pursued, agreed with the other parties that no further process is required, and requested the Commission to issue a CPCN for the proposed project.
I. The Commission considered the Application, evidence, and submissions of interveners and the Applicant and has concluded that the Application is necessary for the public convenience and properly conserves the public interest.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:
1. Pursuant to section 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (Act), a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) is granted to BC Hydro to serve Jade City and Good Hope Lake as set out in the Application as the Project (alternative 2), conditional on BC Hydro taking over, and owning the distribution system in Good Hope Lake.
2. BC Hydro can proceed with construction of the generation plant and distribution works required for the provision of electricity service to Jade City and Good Hope Lake prior to takeover of the electricity distribution system.
3. Pursuant to section 61 of the Act, the revised tariff sheets to include Jade City and Good Hope Lake are to be filed within 90 days of the date BC Hydro expects to commence service in Jade City and Good Hope Lake.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 23rd day of April 2015.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
K. A. Keilty
Commissioner